Govt to give amnesty to stone-pelting youth

The Jammu and Kashmir government is considering amnesty to the youth who have been detained under various incidents of stone-pelting. This was announced by National Conference leader Agha Ruhullah while responding to the adjournment motion about the detention of the youth in various jails.

The Jammu and Kashmir government is considering amnesty to the youth who have been detained under various incidents of stone-pelting.

This was announced by National Conference leader Agha Ruhullah while responding to the adjournment motion about the detention of the youth in various jails.

"Omar Abdullah government has already decided on giving amnesty to the youth. The police have been spoken to and the home department has been working on the proposal,'' said Ruhullah.

The PDP members demanded a discussion on the cases registered against the Kashmiri youth caught in various stone-pelting incidents.

After an hour-long ruckus where the PDP members moved to the well of the house, the speaker allowed a discussion on the issue.

Starting the discussion, PDP member Ghulam Mohammad Veri said, "About 6000 Kashmiri youth are languishing in jails and there are FIRs against thousands other. It does not end there, the youth are not able to get jobs or even passports for performing the Haj," Veri said.

Another PDP member Nizammudin Bhat said that the government needs to take a holistic view. "Quashing the FIRs is not the only thing. The youth have to be provided an atmosphere where they will not resort to such issues," he added.

The National Conference members, however, accused the PDP of "trying to take credit for a decision which has been taken already."

"The PDP must have heard that the government is giving amnesty to the youth, so they have jumped to take credit for the same," said NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar.

Sagar said amnesty would be for the youth who are not involved with any major law and order cases. He said the state chief minister will make a formal announcement in the coming days.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah in June had talked about the general amnesty to those who are not charge-sheeted and not under the purview of the courts during a working committee meeting.